Scaffolder day rates, UK 2026
Typical UK range
£200–£360
per day, ex VAT
≈ £25–£45/hour · reviewed July 2026
What moves the rate
- 01Scaffolds are priced per elevation and hire period, not usually per day
- 02TG20/TG30 compliance and design for anything non-standard
- 03Weekly hire charges after the initial period
- 04Access constraints — pavement licences and road permits
Scaffolding quotes bundle labour, kit hire and compliance: you're paying for the erect-and-strike crew plus the weeks the steel stands. The day-rate figure here reflects the labour component for crew members on domestic jobs.
Scaffolder rates by region
| Region | Day rate | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £270–£485 | £34–£61 | Detail → |
| South East England | £230–£415 | £29–£52 | Detail → |
| East of England | £210–£380 | £26–£48 | Detail → |
| South West England | £200–£360 | £25–£45 | Detail → |
| Scotland | £195–£350 | £24–£44 | Detail → |
| West Midlands | £190–£345 | £24–£43 | Detail → |
| North West England | £190–£340 | £24–£43 | Detail → |
| East Midlands | £185–£330 | £23–£41 | Detail → |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £180–£325 | £23–£41 | Detail → |
| Wales | £180–£320 | £23–£40 | Detail → |
| North East England | £170–£305 | £21–£38 | Detail → |
| Northern Ireland | £165–£295 | £21–£37 | Detail → |
Is your rate right?
A benchmark tells you what the market pays. It doesn't tell you what you need — that depends on your overheads, your tax pot and how many days you really bill. Two minutes in the calculator settles it.
Scaffolder day rates — FAQs
- How much does a scaffolder charge per day in the UK?
- Typically £200–£360 a day, ex VAT, for standard domestic work. London runs roughly a third higher and the lowest-cost regions around 15% below — see the regional breakdown above.
- What affects what a scaffolder charges?
- Experience and reputation, your region, how complex or specialist the work is, whether it's an emergency, and the overheads a scaffolder carries (insurance, van, tools, certification). Scaffolding quotes bundle labour, kit hire and compliance: you're paying for the erect-and-strike crew plus the weeks the steel stands. The day-rate figure here reflects the labour component for crew members on domestic jobs.
- Do scaffolders charge VAT?
- Only if VAT-registered — mandatory once turnover passes £90,000 a year — in which case 20% is added on top. Plenty of sole traders are below the threshold and don't charge it, so check before you agree a price.
- Should I get more than one quote?
- Yes — two or three quotes give you a fair benchmark and make an outlier obvious. A written quote is legally binding in the UK, so a fair one shouldn't move unless you change the scope of the work.
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Indicative ranges compiled from public cost guides, reviewed July 2026. Ex VAT. A guide, not a quote.